Irish Land League

Irish Land League, 1879-82. The league was formed during the agrarian depression to demand tenant rights, including fair rents and security of tenure. It spread through much of the south and west of Ireland, unifying the interests of large and small farmers, provincial town and countryside. Its adoption of the boycott tactic towards rack-renting landlords pressurized Gladstone to introduce his Land Act in 1881, granting many of its demands. Parnell, president of the league, in accepting a revised Land Act and rejecting further agitation by the Kilmainham treaty 1882 effectively terminated the movement.